Alex Golesh, the conductor of Tennessee’s high-powered offense, was named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2022 Broyles Award, as announced by the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation on Monday.
The Volunteers’ second-year offensive coordinator and tight ends coach was selected as a semifinalist for the prestigious honor by a selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters and members representing the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
Golesh will seek to become just the second Tennessee assistant to win the award for the nation’s top assistant coach, joining offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach David Cutcliffe (1998).
In his second season as offensive coordinator, UT’s attack has been near unstoppable through 11 games, ranking first in the FBS in scoring (46.5 ppg) and total offense (540.4 ypg). The Vols also rank second in the nation in passing offense (348.8), fifth in completion percentage (69.6) and sixth in redzone offense (93.3%). They lead the SEC in numerous categories, including scoring offense, total offense, passing offense, completion percentage, passing efficiency (191.15), yards per play (7.27) and passing yards per attempt (10.81).
The impact of Golesh’s up-tempo offense over the last two seasons has been remarkable for a program that ranked 108th in the FBS in scoring (21.5 ppg) and 102nd in the FBS in total offense (346.2 ypg) a year prior to his and head coach Josh Heupel’s arrivals.
One season after shattering eight team single-season records, the Vols have already set a program record for total points (512) this season with two games left to play and are on the cusp of breaking a handful of others. Tennessee has also tied the program record for touchdowns with 67, needing just one more to break that mark that was set just last year.
Golesh is in his 19th season at the collegiate level having enjoyed success at every stop of his career. Prior to spending the 2020 season as the co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at UCF, he served as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Iowa State from 2016-19 on Matt Campbell’s staff.
Golesh grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State in 2006. He got his start in the coaching profession as a student assistant with the Buckeyes.
The five finalists for the Broyles Award will be announced on Nov. 29. The recipient of the award will be unveiled on Dec. 6 in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas.
